Gent-Wevelgem 2014

The 2014 edition of Gent-Wevelgem was a successful one, and saw nothing of the weather of 2013 which saw a shortened version of the prestigious race. It is traditionally a sprinter's race, but of course it is a spring classic, so anything can, and most probably will happen. Tom Boonen started despite a thumb injury sustained in E3 Harelbeke, but it wasn't to be for Mark Cavendish, who is still suffering with fever.

A breakaway decided to try their luck on the day, and a five man group moved clear with ease. Sebastian Lander (BMC Racing) was part of the move, along with Manuele Boaro (Tinkoff-Saxo), Marcel Aregger (IAM Cycling), Jaco Venter (MTN-Qhubeka) and Frederik Veuchelen (Wanty-Groupe Gobert). They soon moved a long way clear, at one point gaining ten minutes on the peloton.

Once the climbs were reached however the break's lead quickly diminished and they quickly began attacking each other. Crashes started affecting the race once they hit the climbs too, the first two favourites affected were Ian Stannard (Sky and Francisco Ventoso (Movistar), who both crashed out of the race and ending up in hospital.

Another group of riders including Lloyd Mondory (AG2R La Mondiale) attacked off the front, and then Manuele Boaro attacked again and led the race alone for a number of kilometres. Back in the peloton, a nasty crash took out another Sky rider, this time Christopher Sutton, who suffered a nasty blow to his knee. The race split apart on the Kemmelberg, but came back together again as they neared Boaro.

He was caught on the Monteberg, and despite the best efforts of the classics men such as Fabian Cancellara, the race stayed together going into the closing stages. Another trio attacked before the end including Stijn Devolder, twice winner of the Tour of Flanders. For a moment it looked like the trio would spoil the party, but they were caught with a kilometre to go, and the sprinters focused on the finish.

A nasty crash brought down Andre Greipel at the end however, and the German champion abandoned the race immediately. It later emerged he had broken his collarbone. The rest of the peloton sprinted for the win, and it was Greipel's compatriot John Degenkolb who took the victory for Giant-Shimano. He was followed by Arnaud Demare (FDJ.fr) and Peter Sagan (Cannondale). A mixed day for Germany, but a great day for Giant-Shimano.